Themes > Science > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry > Chemical Bonding > Types of chemical bonds > Covalent bonds - electrons are shared between atoms
 
  • Atoms that do not lose electrons easily but attract electrons usually form covelent bonds.
  • The positive nucleus of both atoms has an equal attraction for the electrons being shared.
  • The shared electrons spend most of their time between the two atoms.
  • It is the attraction between the nucleus and the shared electrons that holds the atoms together.
  • Diatomic molecules. When found in nature a pure elements, these seven elements exist only as two atoms covalently bonded.
    • Hydrogen - H2
    • Nitrogen - N2
    • Oxygen - O2
    • Florine - F2
    • Chlorine - Cl2
    • Bromine - Br2
    • Iodine - I2
  • Polyatomic ion - a group of covalently bonded atoms that acts like a single atom when combining with other atoms. Overall, this group of atoms is not electrically balanced and does have a total charge.


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